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With all honestly, I am not a forums person. Ever since I played lusternia, I have just made an account for the forums around last year or so, because I realised I may get some updates faster. That said, my point is that some players don't open the forums so the more effective way of communication is ingame. Now that this is being brought up here, I understand where @Jaelise is coming from. Power is an essential component of the game and if I had only heard the complaint before it reached the forums, I could have raised it to the star council to have it reviewed and it would have resolved faster. On a lighter note, I am thankful these players would voice out their concerns in whatever way, rather than keep it in and ultimately explode. These comments are helpful in making sure Celest is worth the shot at staying. Another point I agree on is the shops, considering the political set up of Celest, this is pretty difficult. But I am trying to find ways on how to alleviate that, hopefully with real world concepts, stay tuned @Aeryon !

Hi!

I'm really sorry that this is how both of you feel. I was unaware of your situations. I am more than willing to help the both of you (Including your shop, Aeryon). Please reach out/send a tell/CT. We write most of our event stuff in the CITY LOG (Readlog Celest) - For future reference. Either way, I will help you both as much as I can. @Jaelise @Aeryon

I am working from home and juggling my children at the same time, so sometimes I can be a little slow to respond. 

Hi! 
Only briefly skimmed over this while at work. Wanted to quickly clarify a few points though:

CHELP POWER clarify's that anyone who is no longer a novice (graduated from the academy) can have their power block removed. They're only entitled to draw dross power as CR1. They are still however entitled to draw half of what they add into the Pool. If any aides are unsure, they can look at CHELP POWER under Power Aides.

City Favours: There is an outline on CHELP CITYFAVOURS where it gives a list of things that can earn favours. This isn't limited, and anyone can earn a favour for doing something above and beyond. You have to learn the supplicants quest (Celest's power quest) in order to graduate. Doing that a few times warrants a favour. As previous mentioned above, and written in the CHELP CITYFAVOURS "Addendum: Peasants that earn a cityfavour for any of the above, will automatically qualify for a second cityfavour."

I'm sorry if you find me unapproachable. I make a point of greeting people over the City Aethers, emoting an 'incline, bow, salute' etc. I try to be open an honest (I'm struggling a lot lately as a lot is happening with Celest's politics and a lot in RL). 

Feel free to send me an IG message or letter if you want to contact Aknarin- he normally replies within a RL day. I'm also happy for people to message me saying 'I did this and think it deserves a favour'.

Also if you have any pointers of where you think we can improve, it would be great for you to send them to Aknarin so he can bring it to the Council. Or go through your Guild Leader/Ministers. Or even poke me OOCly on here or discord and I'm happy to discuss. 

Bringing in power, assisting in domoths, participating in timequakes, publishing books, revolts, flares, wildnodes, defense of territories, a number of extraterritorial quests, stage productions... and anyone at CR1 is automatically qualified for a second favor immediately.

Hi, I'm Jaelise. I'm not a newbie, but I play one in Lusternia. I've been debating about posting this, because in some ways I feel it's outing myself. But I think this information is important to consider for how actual newbies(or not-newbies) might experience different orgs. I made a list to compare power laws. It leaves out some information about Mag/Celest, but as a general idea:

Power Laws Summary: 

Magnagora  - Blocked at CR1, base draw of 20 to 130 power per weave starting at CR2
Hallifax   - Take what you need, suggested no more than 50 per weave starting at CR1
Serenwilde - 40 - 200 - unlimited(VAs) power per weave starting at CR1
Glomdoring - 600 power per year, starting at CR1
Celest     - Blocked at CR1, base draw of 20 to 80 to 150(VAs) power per weave starting at CR2
Gaudiguch  - 20 - 80 power per weave starting at CR1

Ok... Magnagora and Celest are the only orgs that power block newbies at CR1. For the record, I personally have never had problems with the power laws of any org - until now. Here's the problem:

- Quests take time to learn. I'm not very familiar with Celest's epic quest, so this makes it an undesirable way to gain cityfavours early on(as it would be for actual newbies, too)

- Power donations require some knowledge of how to monitor one's progress, which 1. Is information actual newbies don't have, and 2. Is tedious and not much fun. It also requires bothering more experienced players for the information/favours, which is something difficult for truebies and shy people to do.

- Cultural stuff requires knowledge too, as well as some amount of confidence and awareness of org rp.

This leaves: 

- Conflict events are usually the easiest and most enjoyable way to be rewarded early on.

But at this given time, conflict events are often one-sided. This means that for many that I happen to be logged in for, there is a reasonable chance that no one else in Celest will be willing to attend. This... is a problem, in terms of participation and recognition. (Also as someone who is aware of conflict event timing, it is easier for me to "happen" to be logged in during them). 

Now, I know that the current political situation is not Celest's fault. But... actual newbies will not know this. What they will know is that they can't participate in most events, they can't draw power, and city advancement is difficult. The knowledge gaps are also made worse by the fact that most people in Celest seem - in my experience - difficult to approach. I've had an easier time with members of Glomdoring. I could almost say it's been easier talking to some people in Magnagora.

The power blocking is the biggest issue I have with all of this. Depending on dross power simply doesn't work if you attempt any sort of combat at all. Last night I tested something to submit a bug, and doing so cost me nearly half of my power, without being able to draw more. That's... incredibly frustrating. If the argument is I could ask for an exception - I don't think I should have to. And again, actual newbies usually won't, along with shy people.

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TLDR, I bring all this up not to be mean or call anyone out. These are my perceptions and the problems I've had with the way participation is handled and the way power laws work in Celest. I don't believe I would have stuck it out as long as I have if 1. I hadn't been warned by other players in advance that this would be the case, and 2. I hadn't had a genuine interest in learning Tahtetso combat. 

And I think that's a problem. Please consider solutions for it.